What’s a girl to do when she needs to bury the memories of her past?Apparently, book a room at a cozy Vermont inn for Christmas…as if that’s going to fix years of pining for the one that got away. It doesn’t matter. This holiday getaway is exactly what the doctor ordered. I’m ready to close that heartbreaking chapter in my life for good and start the new year with a bang. It should be easy. …
It should be easy.
Except there’s one problem—Joe Parker—with that killer smile and those drown-in-me brown eyes. The man who was supposed to be my forever, but instead left my heart shattered and in disarray.
He’s here. In this wintry hamlet. Daring me to risk everything for him. Again.
I came to this small town looking to leave the past behind me, not get reacquainted with an old flame. And yet, one kiss, and I’m consumed by feelings—heart, mind, and soul. He still makes me tingle in all the right places.
Denial is a powerful tool, but how long can I fight falling for him all over again?
Can I trust him enough to give us another shot?
Fans of Jill Shalvis and Nora Roberts will be swept away by One Complicated Christmas, a second-chance standalone holiday romance in a small town, set with mistletoe lurking around every corner. Grab a glass of spiked eggnog and enjoy.
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One Complicated Christmas by Mika Jolie was a sweet and charming second chance romance set in a winter wonder land background. Sasha s ready to put the past behind her once and for all and start fresh in the new year. So when she finds herself alone for Christmas, she heads to quaint Vermont inn. What she never expected was to see the one person she was set to forget, her ex, Joe Parker.
Sasha and Joe met towards the end of college. Once they took the next step together, they knew they were it for each other. Which is why when Joe ghosted her, she was left devastated and heartbroken. Now when she is ready to move on, he wants her to risk it all again! Can she trust in him again? Sasha was strong and determined. Joe was so sweet and caring. You could feel their love whenever they were together. This story was a quick read with all the best kind of feels!
Happy reading!
One Complicated Christmas by Mika Jolie is a sweet, second chance, Christmas romance. It tells the story of Joe and Sasha, college sweethearts, who were separated for six years because of unforeseen circumstances. Joe’s sudden departure, lack of explanation, and his failure to communicate broke Sasha’s heart. Six years later during the Christmas season, she decides its time for her to let go of the past. So she checks into a Bed and Breakfast in Yeti, Vermont, which appears to the perfect place for healing a broken heart and taking skiing lessons, only to come face to face with the source of her heartbreak.
“You know it’s love when your feelings don’t leave even if the person does.”
This quote by the author aptly describes Joe and Sasha’s journey in finding their way back to each other. Their unexpected reunion revealed that distance and time had no effect on true love. Old feelings bubbled to the surface, but fear and anger on Sasha’s part had the potential to destroy it all. I could not blame for feeling the way she did.
I understood the reasons for Joe’s sudden departure, but I had a hard time accepting his failure to communicate with the woman, whom he considered his heart and soul. Six years of heartache, pain and misunderstanding could have been avoided if trust and communication were present in their relationship.
Personally, I believed he got off too easily. I thought he needed to do more groveling. However, I have to admit it was evident he had matured since then and he made an effort to make up for his mistake.
I enjoyed the Christmas feeling that the story elicited, warm, and fuzzy. The story that unfolded was heartwarming, sweet and predictable.
I was a little disappointed with the lack of reference to Jamaican Christmas practices. Sasha’s mom is Jamaican, so it would be natural for her to teach her about her heritage and culture, but this was not reflected in the story.
Conclusion/Recommendation
One Complicated Christmas is a story about forgiveness and second chances. An enjoyable read and one I would recommend to readers who are fans of second chance and Christmas romance.
The storyline was wonderfully written and the well created characters were very likable, believable and very engaging which made this book a very enjoyable and entertaining read!
A sweet Christmas story!
Misunderstandings and mistakes kept Sasha and Joe apart for six years, but fate has put them in each other’s paths again. Is it fate or coincidence? I loved how confident Joe was going after what he wanted, even though Sasha was hesitant to trust him again. She was afraid he would break her heart again. Joe knew they were soulmates, but he needed to convince Sasha, after he begged her forgiveness for leaving six years ago. Will she forgive him and give him a second chance, or did he hurt her too much when he left?
Mika Jolie has written a very sweet, second chance holiday romance with this book. The characters are likeable, and the plot is enjoyable without be overly angsty. If you are in the mood for a feel-good romance and a happily ever after that is tinged with holiday spirit- this is your book. Enjoy!
Such a great story of second chance love!
Joe & Sasha are such an amazing couple. They work through the hurt and misunderstandings from the past to redevelop trust and continue a love that neither of them has been able to forget.
A favorite line: Soulmates don’t have calendars or clocks.
This is the kind of story you’ll fall in love with instantly and never forget. It is sweet, heartwrenching and fun, all at the same time.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
A great story of heartbreak, trying to move, and letting go of the past sounds simple right? Nothing is ever that simple especially for Sasha who has decided it is time for her to shed the past and reinvent herself by moving on. She then heads to Vermont planning to have a relaxing holiday while ridding herself of the past heartache, yet once she gets to the Inn she is staying at there her past appears and takes her by surprise. Joseph broke her heart years ago, left her high and dry, and without so much of a goodbye so she is determined to move on and ignore him. The thing is their attraction and push and pull they have is too strong for them to ignore. Can Sasha let go of her and past and Joseph or will her walls come crumbling down once she gets the full story of why he shredded her heart? Can they move on or will their attraction bring them back together? I thought this was a cute and heartbreaking read, poor Sasha has suffered and hurt but is she getting a second chance at love or is this a final goodbye? Cute read and that keeps you guessing how will this play out for Sasha and Joseph.
Fate, chance, destiny— whatever you call it Joe and Sasha are it. When you go away to try and start over and run straight in to your past it is obviously meant to be. This was a fantastic, quick but complete read. Great for a holiday story.
After pining for six years for Joe Parker, the ex-boyfriend who ghosted her, Sasha Kovac was finally ready to let go and move on. She decides to spend Christmas out of town and goes to Yeti, Vermont. She is stunned when she sees Joe there. As it turns out, not only does he live in the area, but his sister owns the B&B she is staying in! Will Sasha get the closure she came for, or will she give Joe another chance?
Reading this book was like riding an emotional roller coaster for me. There was a moment when I was almost sure this book wouldn’t end with a HEA (I hate it when that happens!) and I was just about ready to tag the book as a DNF; but then the story took a turn and pulled me back in! Now that I finished the book, I’m glad I kept reading because it’s such a heartwarming tale. It reads like a Hallmark movie, but with a lot of steam. It also includes a recipe for mulled wine. Highly recommended!
One Complicated Christmas is a contemporary holiday romance written in dual first-person POV. It’s a standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Sasha’s never gotten over Joe, the man she saw her forever with, the man who ghosted her without a word. Now he’s inadvertently back in her life when she books a stay at the inn Joe’s sister runs. She couldn’t possibly open up her heart for another round of pain, could she?
The Christmas spirit, the forced proximity, and the love that’s never disappeared say she can. She just has to have faith they can work things out this holiday season.
One Complicated Christmas isn’t really complicated, but it is sweet and tugs at the heart more than a tad. I loved Joe and Sasha’s second chance story, how sweet and earnest it was, not to mention spicy enough to warm the coldest, Scroogiest hearts.
An incredibly sweet and delightful second chance romance story. This was a quick and enjoyable read. A story about love lost; starting over, regret and forgiveness, set around the Christmas holiday.
No one likes to feel rejected. That was exactly how Sasha felt after Joe suddenly disappeared from her life with no explanation six years ago. Now he was back asking to be an important part of her life again. But now he has a lot of explaining to do and a few hurdles to jump over before she would let him back in. I loved everything about this story of redemption and was “wowed” by a clever and sassy ten year old. This is a great read if you like watching those warm and fuzzy Hallmark feel-good Christmas movies.
I read this in less than an hour! I LOVED IT!! 😀 <3
Sasha is heartbroken. After losing her heart and soul to her soulmate six years ago, Sasha decides to travel to Yeti, Vermont for Christmas. With a bag and envelopes by her side, she's determined to burn the final pieces of her old self and revitalize herself into a newer, more confident woman- one who can move on without Joe. She's ready to ski, drink some hot chocolate, and try to have herself a merry little Christmas.
I read this in less than an hour! I LOVED IT!! 😀 <3
Sasha is heartbroken. After losing her heart and soul to her soulmate six years ago, Sasha decides to travel to Yeti, Vermont for Christmas. With a bag and envelopes by her side, she's determined to burn the final pieces of her old self and revitalize herself into a newer, more confident woman- one who can move on without Joe. She's ready to ski, drink some hot chocolate, and try to have herself a merry little Christmas.
So why is it that when she walks into the inn that she is staying at, she runs into- literally- none other than the man who deserted her their senior year of college? Yes, that's right- Joseph Parker. Chestnut curls and caramel-colored eyes that fill her with emotions that she needs to forget about. Sasha isn't ready to forgive him, not by a long shot.
But as she and Joe try to avoid each other, it soon becomes clear that it's impossible to forget about the chemistry the two of them had. Can Sasha forgive the man who broke her heart and allow herself a second chance at love? It is the season, after all... Or will she return to New Jersey without him, and as a stronger version of herself?
This was AMAZING! The chemistry was sweet and sexy, the tension just enough, and the plot was so great! It definitely kept me guessing!
I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙂
One Complicated Christmas is the first novel I have ever read by Mika Jolie. I was on a hunt for more holiday novels to read and stumbled upon this lovely novel and I am so glad I did. One Complicated Christmas is a standalone, second chance novel set in a small town.
Sasha visits a small town in Vermont over Christmas to finally let go of her past once and for all. Yet, when she gets to this beautiful little inn, her past slaps her right in the face. Her ex who ghosted her 6 years ago is now standing in front of her. She has to decide if she is going to flee or if she will stick with her plan of letting her past go. Six years ago Joe fled his life. Once he looked back he did show with regret. Now the woman he left all those years ago, Sasha, is standing in front of him. What should he do? Should he leave her alone or should he explain himself and try and get her to understand his situation?
This book is so cute!! I loved it and I am sure you will too. The storyline is so sincere. I got major Hallmark Channel holiday movie vibes from this book the whole time I was reading it. I kept thinking, “ I would watch this book as a movie on Hallmark Channel!” If you’re interested in a quirky, sweet, holiday book, pick this one up. You won’t regret it.
Such a fun book! A few twists and lots of fun! Thank you for a great holiday book Mika!
Mika Jolie absolutely slayed this second chance holiday romance.
I’m not one that really believes in fate but sometimes I read something that definitely makes me question that. This book is definitely one of those. What else other than fate brought Sasha and Joe back together?
This book is amazing. The characters made me feel all the ups and downs. And that epilogue… there’s no words that could it justice.
I loved this sweet short second chance story. The characters were wonderfully written, the story was sweetly beautiful, and it shows that true love can win in the end.
This book could easily be a Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movie. It had it all, the picturesque setting, the lovely story, the yearning and the romance. It made me wish I could be in this beautiful town with all the lovely people. It even had a little angst. While I was reading I yearned to be in this town with my cup of hot chocolate (or does coco sound more festive?) or mulled wine.
It’s a quick read and believe me you won’t want to put it down.
It made me wonder wether or not fate really does play a part in our lives. It’s a beautiful story of hope, fate, wonder, second chances and maybe there really is Santa Claus, he just comes in different ways. Sometimes we don’t always get want we want when we want it but rather when we need it. Sometimes it’s complicated!
‘Tis the Season of Love
One Complicated Christmas is a sweet, second chance romance. Sasha heads to Yeti, Vermont for the holidays. Blanketed in snow and teeming with holiday cheer, it appears to be a perfect place to heal her soul. However it also happens to be home to Joe, Sasha’s college love. Sasha and Joe are surprised to see each other again. The interactions they have are emotional and achy. Their chemistry still sizzles, but anger and fear threaten to quell their connection. With the help of family, Christmas magic, and maybe even fate Sasha and Joe find their way to a new beginning. This story will warm your heart and fill your spirit with hope.
This is a second chance romance set in the picturesque little town of Yeti, Vermont. There is snow, skiing, a hot ski instructor with a soft heart, fires in the fireplace and gingerbread cookies. This story is warm and full of spirit and a perfect read to kick off the Christmas romance season for me.
Sasha and Joe were college sweethearts. When he disappeared without a word, it broke her heart. When Sasha takes steps to move on after six years, she runs into the last man she expects to see. As they reconnect, they must communicate and forgive. They realize that moving forward together is a possibility and they need to decide if it is worth the risk of further pain.
I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and could easily become a Hallmark movie if a couple of bedroom scenes are changed to a fade to black scenes instead. Though as a reader, I enjoyed those scenes and would be sad to see them go. The little town is picture perfect and the local characters add to the story. I particularly loved 11-year-old Raven. I could see the author coming back to Yeti for future stories and I am looking forward to reading more.